Shillong, Oct 13: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has taken full political responsibility for the recent IED incident in Umsning, Ri Bhoi District.

In a statement issued on Monday, HNLC general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said that the act was carried out as a “symbolic protest” against the continued betrayal of the Jaidbynriew by corrupt politicians and businessmen who shelter and empower non‑tribal interests at the expense of our people.

The outfit accused the political class of sheltering non-tribal settlers, facilitating land transfers, and supporting outside interests that threaten the future of the Hynniewtrep.

“(We) issue this statement to remind all present and former elected representatives that the trust of the Jaidbynriew is not a privilege to be sold or traded. The duty of every leader is to protect the land, resources, and identity of our people  not to compromise them for personal or political gain. We have observed with deep concern that certain individuals within the political class continue to misuse their position by sheltering non-tribal settlers, facilitating land transfers, and supporting outside interests that threaten the future of the Hynniewtrep. The Jaidbynriew face a grave and ongoing threat, a corrupt political class that trades our land, resources, and identity for outside patronage. Such betrayals are not mere failings they are acts of political treason against our people and our ancestors,” Nongtraw said while claiming that the outfit had planted the IED in front of the residence of former minister Nehlang Lyngdoh.

The HNLC warned that it will expose and confront those who collude with outsiders, stating that political authority must be rooted in the will of the people, not in the favor of outsiders.

The outfit claimed to possess the military capability to confront selfish politicians, regardless of whether they hold power or not.

“In 2004, just a week before our strategic detonation at them metor, we successfully planted an IED at the SP office in Shillong, leaving it undetonated. The police department chose to keep this incident under wraps, driven by their embarrassment that, despite operating in a highly secured area, we still demonstrated the capability to infiltrate and plant explosives. In 2021, we executed a similar operation at the Khliehriat police reserve, resulting in deaths and casualties among the police. Once again, the authorities opted to hide the truth from the public,” Nongtraw said.

“This is a final reminder that political authority must be rooted in the will of the people, not in the favor of outsiders. Those who continue to act against the interests of the Jaidbynriew will lose the moral right to claim leadership among our people,  and the HNLC possesses the military capability to confront these selfish politicians, regardless of whether they hold power or not,” he concluded.

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